Synopsis
In the mid-nineteenth century, little was known of the west coast and waterways. The ships that sailed those waters did so at a considerable risk, sometimes depending on only a school atlas to navigate and all too often crashing into the rocks. So the U.S. Coast Survey, whose purpose was to map every mile of American shoreline, commissioned George Davidson to chart all of the major points on the coast and all of the waterways in between. In this beautifully illustrated book, Taylor Morrison chronicles the challenges and adventures Davidson and his team faced and the methods they used to accomplish this monumental, and essential, task.
The New York Times
Some younger readers will find that the detailed description of the how Cape Disappointment was charted is rough going; others, with an interest in science, may appreciate Morrison's willingness to plunge into complex subjects. — Eric Nagourney